Former Philly top cop's son accused of house theft

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The son of a former Philadelphia police commissioner is among four people charged with stealing 22 houses.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said 55-year-old Zachary Stokes, 42-year-old Oscar Ketter and 48-year-old Elhadi Ibrahim were arrested Wednesday following a three-year investigation.

Officials say 49-year-old Steven Johnson has also been charged, but was not yet in custody. He’s the son of former Philadelphia police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, who retired in 2008. Steven Johnson is a former police lieutenant with the city’s transit agency and also worked for the sheriff’s office.

Investigators say the men would forge documents for unoccupied houses and transfer ownership from the rightful owner, then sell the houses.

The men face charges including criminal conspiracy, theft, forgery and records tampering. It wasn’t immediately clear if they had attorneys.